Recipes to prevent and treat earache

The ear has three main parts: the outer (the ear lobe and ear canal), middle (the small space just behind the eardrum), and inner ear (the fluid-filled structures that translate mechanical vibrations into nerve impulses). Problems in the inner ear cause disturbances in hearing and balance, but not pain. Dental problems (including teething in kids) can cause pain that seems to come from the ear.

Trauma and infection of the outer ear hurt. Bacterial and fungal infections in the ear canal—as can happen to swimmers—cause itching, redness, a feeling of fullness in the ear canal, diminished hearing, and increasing pain. Antibiotic eardrops fight bacterial infection; antifungal drops kill fungi; and steroid eardrops can decrease inflammation.

Middle ear pain is caused by a pressure differential between the middle ear and throat. Earaches during childhood usually stem from middle ear infection. By the age of five, 80 percent of children have had at least one episode.

What happens: The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear, which is normally an air-filled space, with the throat. Something— cigarette smoke, bacteria, viruses, or allergens—inflames the Eustachian tube. Inflammation obstructs the tube, which traps microbes that entered from the throat. The microbes multiply. Accumulating fluid (from infection and inflammation) creates pressure against the eardrum, which hurts.

Infants and small children are more vulnerable because their Eustachian tubes are shorter, more horizontal, and floppier, making collapse and obstruction of the tube easier.

Signs and symptoms of a middle ear infection include irritability, fever, batting or pulling at the ear, difficulty sleeping, decreased hearing, loss of balance, decreased appetite, and discharge from the ear. Blood-tinged pus exiting the ear is a sign that the eardrum has ruptured. Often the pain immediately subsides. The eardrum usually heals itself. Nevertheless, you should see the doctor. Unless recommended by your doctor, do not instill eardrops into the ear canal if you suspect a ruptured eardrum. Doing so could further contaminate or irritate the now-exposed middle ear. If the doctor prescribes an antibiotic or steroid eardrop, by all means use it.

Doctors diagnose outer and middle ear infections by examining the ear with a lighted instrument called an otoscope. They may also withdraw fluid from the middle ear with a small needle and send it off for culture. To prevent children’s middle ear infections, it helps to stay up to date on immunizations, particularly the Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), seasonal influenza virus, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

In addition, stay away from tobacco smoke. It impairs the immune system and inflames the respiratory linings. Inflammation and swelling in the Eustachian tube can obstruct it, which increases the risk of middle ear infection.

Recipes to prevent and treat earache

Anti-Swimmer’s Ear Drops
1 teaspoon (5 ml) white vinegar 1 teaspoon (5 ml) rubbing alcohol
Preparation and use:
Pour the ingredients into a sterile bottle with a dropper (or a small squeeze bottle; just use a sterile bowl and clean teaspoon). Cap and shake vigorously to combine (or stir them together in a bowl first and then add to bottle). Squeeze 2 to 3 drops into each ear before and after swimming or bathing (or pour 1 teaspoon [5 ml] into each ear). Tip the head to one side, so the solution reaches the ear canal, and then tip the head back, so that the mixture drains out.
Yield:1 application for each ear
How it works:
Mildly acidic solutions help restore normal pH and an environment less hospitable to bacteria and fungi.

Warm It Up
A hot water bottle or warm washcloth
A clean cloth
Preparation and use:
Lie on your side, the painful ear up. (Or ask your child to do the same.) Check that the hot water bottle or washcloth is warm but not too hot. If using a hot water bottle, cover the outer ear with a clean cloth first. Apply the warmth until the bottle or cloth cools. Reheat and apply again if needed.
Yield: 1 application
How it works:
Warmth relieves ear pain. Cold can also do the trick. Determine which works best in your case. This treatment relieves symptoms and may increase circulation to the area. However, it does not directly combat the infection, and you should see the doctor for antibiotics or other treatment if necessary. Note: If your child finds cold more soothing, use a bag of frozen peas, first covering the ear with a cloth.

Rice Ear Warmer
1 cup (195 g) uncooked rice (any variety)
Preparation and use:
Pour the rice into a clean athletic sock and knot the top. Microwave the rice-filled sock on HIGH for 30 seconds. Check the warmth level: the rice- filled sock should be warm but not too hot. Lie down with the painful ear up. Apply the warm sock to the ear. If it is too warm, apply it on top of a clean, soft cloth.
Yield: 1 application
How it works:
Heat helps relieve the pain of earache.

Olive Oil Ear Drops
Warm olive oil dropped into the ear canal can relieve middle ear pain and also help soften earwax. 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
Preparation and use:
Put the olive oil in a small, sterile bottle with a dropper and cap it securely. Fill a saucepan halfway with water. Heat the water on the stove top until warm but not boiling. Turn off the burner. Hold the capped bottle in the hot water for 5 minutes or less—just until the oil is warm. Test the temperature on your inner wrist. Position the person with ear pain on his or her side, painful ear up. Drop in 2 to 3 drops of warm oil (you are loosely plugging the ear canal with oil) and have the person stay in position for 10 to 15 minutes. If your child has the earache, read to him or her (or sing or tell stories) to keep him or her still. Repeat up to four times a day. When the child sits up, blot the oil the runs out of the ear with a clean cloth, cotton pad, or facial tissue.
Yield: 1 application
How it works:
Warmth relieves ear pain, and warm olive oil is a time-honored remedy. However, one study did compare olive oil (that had not been warmed) to prescription anesthetic drops and found that the latter was more effective. You can always try the home remedy first. If that doesn’t bring relief, call your doctor. Warning: Do not instill olive oil in the presence of blood-tinged purulent discharge from the ear canal (a sign of a ruptured eardrum). Also refrain from using oil if you plan on seeing the doctor within the next few hours, as the oil will interfere with a proper ear exam.

Herbal Eardrops
This formula eased ear pain when my children were young. ~ LBW
1 tablespoon (2 g) dried St. John’s wort flowering tops 2 tablespoons (3 g) dried calendula flowers 1 tablespoon (2 g) dried mullein ½ cup (120 ml) extra-virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 vitamin E capsule
Preparation and use:
Place the herbs in a clean coffee mill or food processor and process until powdered. Heat water in the bottom of the double boiler. Once it boils, lower the heat to low. Pour the oil into the top pan. Add the garlic. Stir in the herbs and cover the pot. Heat over as low a heat as possible for 30 to 60 minutes, stirring frequently. Do not allow the oil to burn or water to get into the oil. Remove the pot from the heat. Let cool. Strain through muslin or a double layer of cheesecloth. Squeeze as much oil as you can out of the herbal matter. Discard or compost the herbs. Bottle the oil. To help preserve the oil, puncture the vitamin E capsule into the bottle. Refrigerate the mixture for up to one year. Drop 2 to 3 drops of warm herbal oil into the affected ear as described in the previous recipe.
Yield: ¹∕3 to ½ cup (80 to 120 ml), for multiple applications 
How it works:
Three studies have shown that herbal eardrops reduce pain from middle ear infections in children as well as or better than anesthetic eardrops. Otikon, the herbal oil used in the studies, contains garlic, mullein, calendula, and St. John’s wort in olive oil. Garlic (Allium sativum) is antimicrobial against viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), and calendula (Calendula officinalis) have activity against some viruses and bacteria, counter inflammation, and ease pain. Calendula also fights some fungi, though these can infect the outer, but not the middle ear.

High and Dry 
Fight swimmer’s ear by taking action immediately after swimming or bathing.
A clean, soft cloth
Your ears
Preparation and use:
After swimming, immediately dry your outer ears gently and thoroughly with the cloth. Tip your head to one side, letting the water drain from one ear. Dab away that moisture. Repeat the action with the other ear.
Yield: 1 application in each ear
How it works:
Bacteria and fungi thrive in warm, moist conditions. Plus, public swimming pools, lakes, and oceans contain bacteria. Removing water from the ear eliminates a potential breeding ground. Note: Alternatively, you can use a blow-dryer, but do so with care: I turn it to low and hold it at least a foot (30 cm) away from your ear. Excessive heat and noise can cause damage.

Go Pro (Biotics) Summer Pops
2 cups (400 g) honey vanilla Greek yogurt (or your favorite) 1 tablespoon (15 g) fresh orange juice 1 cup (170 g) sliced fresh strawberries 1 cup (145 g) fresh blueberries
Preparation and use:
In a blender, combine the yogurt and juice. Gradually add the strawberries and blueberries and pulse until fully blended. Spoon the yogurt mixture into a Popsicle mold with 8 impressions or into 8 paper cups. Insert sticks (for the paper cups, you can use plastic spoons or snip sturdy plastic straws in half to create holders). Freeze for 2 to 4 hours until firm. To remove, dip the cups or mold briefly into warm, not hot, water, pull out, and enjoy! Remove them all at once and wrap in individual resealable plastic bags to eat at your leisure.
Yield: 8 servings
How it works:
Live-culture yogurt and kefir contain bacteria similar to those normally present in your intestinal tract. The friendly bacteria and fungi that colonize your bodily surfaces promote immune system function and defend against disease-causing microbes. The five studies investigating the ability of oral probiotics (usually taken as supplements) to prevent recurrent middle ear infections in infants and children have yielded mixed results. However, studies have shown that probiotics help prevent respiratory infections. The significance is that colds and influenza set the stage for middle ear infection. Note: Because their intestines aren’t mature enough to digest dairy products, children under the age of twelve months should not consume milk. However, if your infant is six months old or older, is not allergic to milk, and doesn’t have an allergic condition such as eczema, yogurt is fine. The bacterial cultures in yogurt digest much of the lactose (milk sugar) and casein (milk protein).

When simple Doesn’t Work
Middle ear pain can be relieved by anesthetic eardrops, such as Auralgan and Aurodex. In the United States, most pharmacies require a doctor’s prescription. Oral pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil), can also relieve discomfort. Do not give children or teens aspirin. Do not exceed recommended dosages. Note that applying warmth to the ear and using the other remedies here may relieve discomfort, but do not directly combat the infection.

When to see the Doctor 
You or your child:
• has a mild to moderate earache for mor e than two to three days
• has severe ear pain
• has significant symptoms of swimmer’s ear or middle ear infection
You:
• notice discharge leaking from the ear canal
• have a sick infant under six months of age
• have a toddler under two years of age who has ear pain and fever • have any concerns or questions about your child’s health Your infant or child:
• is extremely irritable and inconsolable
• has become listless or lethargic